NASA astronauts conduct fire safety experiments aboard ISS

by Featured NewsResearchSafety

Biotechnology and fire safety top the schedule

NASA has reported that Expedition 73 crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS) conducted experiments on Tuesday focusing on fire safety in microgravity and DNA-inspired nanomaterials, alongside routine station maintenance.

NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers conducted operations using the Life Sciences Glovebox as part of the DNA Nano Therapeutics Mission 2.

This mission explores how specially designed molecules formed by DNA-like nanomaterials might support therapeutic delivery systems.

The pair mixed mRNA and protein solutions to test production methods and formulation processes that could be used for low-cost in-space manufacture.

These materials may also help develop delivery systems that reduce patient side effects.

Ayers also connected a spectrophotometer to measure light wavelengths in further support of the nanomaterials investigation.

Throughout the day, she also performed battery checks on the Astrobees, cube-shaped free-flying robots that assist with logistics and technical testing on board the ISS.

These robots support crew efficiency by performing routine tasks and enhancing communication with ground control.

Investigating flame suppression in microgravity

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim worked with fire-related experiments in the station’s combustion research area.

He installed mist hardware for the Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction (SoFIE) experiment.

This system is designed to study flame extinguishment behaviour in space.

Kim also worked with the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR), which facilitates detailed research into how fire starts, behaves and can be suppressed in microgravity conditions.

The experiments are part of NASA’s broader effort to refine safety protocols for current and future missions.

Understanding fire behaviour without gravity is essential for the design of effective safety systems on crewed spacecraft.

Fire experiments and maintenance in the Japanese module

Station Commander Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) carried out fire safety and maintenance tasks in the Japanese Experiment Module.

Onishi managed the Solid Combustion Experiment Module (SCEM), where he exchanged gas bottles and performed leak checks using the Multi-Purpose Small Payload Rack.

These tasks help support ongoing research into how materials burn and how fires might be detected and controlled on long-duration missions.

He also worked on installing recycled water tanks and configuring drainage systems as part of essential onboard plumbing updates.

Russian crew members focus on station systems

Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritskiy and Kirill Peskov completed maintenance tasks across the Russian segment of the station.

Zubritskiy unloaded supplies, replaced thermal sensors and checked the installation position of a flow sensor.

Peskov performed an audit of ethernet cables and made adjustments to the intermodular ventilation system connecting the Russian and U.S. segments of the ISS.

These infrastructure checks and upgrades support reliable operation across different modules and maintain system integrity on the orbiting platform.

NASA astronauts conduct fire safety experiments aboard ISS: Summary

NASA has reported that Expedition 73 astronauts conducted a series of biotechnology and fire safety experiments aboard the International Space Station.

Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers worked with DNA-based nanomaterials to assess space-based therapeutic production and delivery methods.

Ayers also performed spectrophotometer readings and supported robotic maintenance tasks.

Jonny Kim carried out fire suppression research using SoFIE mist hardware and combustion analysis tools.

Station Commander Takuya Onishi worked with combustion experiments in the Japanese module and performed system maintenance.

Russian cosmonauts focused on ventilation systems, thermal sensor replacements and hardware audits.

The experiments contribute to a better understanding of fire behaviour and response strategies in microgravity.

NASA wildfire research faces uncertainty amid proposed US budget cuts

by Breaking NewsResearchWildland Fire

FireSense project monitored controlled burn in Georgia to aid wildfire management

NBC News has reported that a NASA wildfire research project called FireSense may be at risk due to potential federal budget cuts in the United States.

The project recently monitored a 700-acre prescribed burn at Fort Stewart Army base in Georgia using airborne instruments to collect data on fire behaviour and intensity.

The burn was carried out under controlled conditions to clear vegetation and study fire dynamics, helping scientists understand how wildfires spread and how they might be better managed.

NASA’s advanced technology used for real-time wildfire data collection

According to NBC News, FireSense applies technology developed for space missions to wildfire monitoring.

At Fort Stewart, researchers used an airborne infrared instrument known as AVIRIS-3 to map the fire’s spread, temperature and behaviour.

NASA said the project aims to provide wildland fire managers with field-ready tools to improve fire response and prevention efforts.

NASA FireSense Project Scientist Jacquelyn Shuman said: “The goal is to take our innovative technology, go into the field with wildland fire managers and actually transfer that innovative technology so that they can use it on a wildland fire.”

Former firefighter says fire science must be a tool in addressing the crisis

The programme’s team includes former wildland firefighters, such as FireSense Project Coordinator Harrison Raine.

Raine told NBC News: “We’re trying to combine all aspects of the fire life cycle and using science to understand what is happening and what we can do about it.”

Raine added: “This is a deep personal issue for me. I’m from Los Angeles. I’ve seen kind of the devastation and really trying to tackle this huge problem. And it takes every tool that we have, and science is a big one.”

Raine previously worked as a member of a hotshot crew dispatched to wildfires across the country, including in Idaho, Montana and California.

Budget proposal raises questions about future of NASA Earth science projects

NBC News reported that the White House is preparing a budget proposal that may include deep cuts to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, which oversees Earth-focused research like FireSense.

Rachel Cauley, a spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget, said: “No funding decisions have been finalized.”

NASA declined to comment and referred budget queries to the Office of Management and Budget.

Michael Wara, a senior research scholar at Stanford University, stated: “FireSense was born because NASA said: Wildfires are a big and emerging problem, and we’re going to invest and we’re going to use our skill set to help the rest of the government do its job better.”

Wara added: “There’s no question that our level of information about fire and fire risk has improved with FireSense. It would be a shame to lose it, because it would be very hard to get back.”

Congressman George Whitesides of California also told NBC News: “Cuts to crucial wildfire programmes like Firesense put communities like mine — which are just beginning to rebuild after the devastating Southern California fires — at extreme risk.”

NASA wildfire research faces uncertainty amid proposed US budget cuts: Summary

NBC News has reported that the FireSense project collecting wildfire data using NASA airborne technology is at risk.

The project recently studied a prescribed burn at Fort Stewart Army base in Georgia.

The burn was part of efforts to understand fire spread, temperature and behaviour.

FireSense uses AVIRIS-3 infrared sensors to map fire movement and provide insights for fire managers.

The data aims to support real-time wildfire response and inform vegetation management strategies.

The project involves collaboration with local, state and federal fire agencies.

Former firefighters working with FireSense have said science must be part of the fire response.

NBC News reported that proposed budget cuts could impact NASA’s Earth science programmes.

NASA declined to comment on the potential funding changes.

A White House spokesperson said no decisions have been finalised.

Experts including Stanford University’s Michael Wara said losing FireSense would reduce wildfire data availability.

Representative George Whitesides warned that programme cuts would place fire-prone communities at higher risk.

Wildfire detection: Optimising hazard awareness with real-time data from Indji Systems

by Featured NewsFire DetectionWildland Fire

Importance of accurate wildfire data

Accurate wildfire information is increasingly crucial as wildfires become more frequent, posing significant risks to both residential areas and remote industrial locations.

The data provided by NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) is particularly valuable to Indji Watch customers globally, aiding in the timely awareness of natural hazards.

This information is vital for utility companies and renewable energy providers who manage infrastructure like transmission lines and solar arrays in secluded areas.

In an article for Earth Data, Mark Carinello, the product manager for Indji Systems, highlighted the critical role of this data: “Having [wildfire] hotspot data available to any company in North America or anywhere in the world is hugely important,” Carinello said: “Without it, we and our customers would have much less awareness of where fires are right now and how they might impact their work.”

Technology and satellite data in fire detection

Indji Systems integrates satellite data into its Indji Watch system to offer real-time monitoring and alerts.

This system is essential for managing the risks associated with natural hazards like wildfires and lightning strikes.

Carinello explained the direct benefits of this approach: “If you have staff up on a wind turbine 100 meters above the ground in the open countryside of west Texas, you don’t want to be out there when there’s lightning.

“If you’re working in a canyon for a utility in California and there’s a wildfire 10 miles away, it might take you a while to get out of that area.”

The FIRMS platform provides critical near-real-time (NRT) and ultra-real-time (URT) data, which are instrumental in detecting and tracking wildfires.

This data includes satellite imagery, active fire, and hotspot information that helps users pinpoint the location, extent, and intensity of wildfire activity.

Enhanced fire detection capabilities

The integration of FIRMS data has proven indispensable for Indji Systems.

“Fire can a be a tough natural hazard to detect and getting the best information is a continuous challenge,” Carinello noted.

He further detailed the advantages of satellite data in fire detection, particularly in remote locations where traditional reporting may be unreliable.

FIRMS’ data, derived from instruments like the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), offers timely updates that are crucial for the safety of remote operations.

IFSJ comment

The use of advanced satellite data for fire detection and management by Indji Systems exemplifies the importance of technological integration in enhancing hazard awareness and infrastructure safety in the energy sector.

This proactive approach ensures the safety of personnel and minimizes the risk to critical infrastructure, showcasing a commitment to operational continuity and environmental responsibility.